Glossary of Barcode Terms

Also called Matrix Barcodes – Refers to barcodes that encode information both vertically and horizontally as opposed to traditional 1D barcodes. These are capable of encoding much more information than normal barcodes. QR Codes are the most common type of 2D Barcodes.

These are sequential numbers usually encoded in Code-39 or Code-128 format barcodes. Labels with a different barcode number on each are stuck onto assets of a business to keep track of what goes in and out. These formats of barcodes are used in this way in libraries for lending out books as well.

A type of 2D Barcode with an Aztec pyramid like centre finder pattern (A pattern in the centre of the code used by the scanner to establish a centre point). These are used primarily for tickets of transport providers such as eurostar.

Refers to a purchase option that some barcode retailers offer where by both the Barcode number and the Barcode images can be purchased at the same time. This sometimes also includes a guarantee certificate and can also include barcode registration.

An optional service offered by some alternative barcode suppliers to increase the internet profile of barcodes and ensure that the product information appears when the barcode is scanned by cell phone apps. There is no mandatory registration database for barcode numbers.

An additional digit that is calculated using a special algorithm and added onto the end of a barcode. This helps ensure the barcode is not accidentally keyed in wrong as if one digit is incorrect the check-digit will change. Also called check-sum digit.

A barcode symbology used mostly for asset tracking. Can only encode numeric data. Has a high data density so very small items should use labels with this instead of code-39 as code-128 should scan more easily.

A barcode symbology used mostly for asset tracking. Can encode alpha-numeric data (letters and numbers). Code-39 has a low data density so small goods should not be labelled with this because small barcodes of this type may be difficult for a scanner to pick up.

Refers the section of a barcode numbers following the initial 3 digits. The Company prefix is the section following that doesn’t change across an entire company’s barcode selection. The length of this is determined by how many individual barcode numbers the company owns (i.e. if they own 10,000 barcode numbers then the company prefix needs to be shorter to fit within the 13 digit threshold).

Refers to the first three digits of a retail barcode number which indicate which GS1 member organisation the barcode came from. A common misconception is that this shows the country of origin of the product when in reality it only shows the country of origin of the barcode itself.

European Article Number – The 13 digit standard retail barcode used almost ubiquitously throughout the world. Only in the USA they use UPC-A Barcodes more commonly, although stores still accept EAN-13 Barcodes. EAN-13 can refer to the barcode number or the barcode format .

Global Location Numbers are 13 digit numbers required by some stores as a prerequisite for trading. These unique numbers are used as location identifiers. These can be obtained through GS1 and some alternative suppliers.

GS1, or Global Standards One, are the international company that implements and enforces barcode standards. Barcodes can be purchased through them, though generally an initial joining fee needs to be paid as well as annual memberships fees.

GTIN’s are Global Trade Identification Numbers. These refer to any barcode numbers used in retail as part of the GS1 system. These could be GTIN-13’s (or EAN-13’s), GTIN-12’s (UPC-A) or GTIN-14 (ITF-14).

International Standard Serial Number Barcodes are 13 digit barcode that have been converted from an 8 digit ISSN Number. This 13 digit code is encoded using EAN-13 symbology in a barcode that is used on magazines and other periodicals.

ITF-14’s or Interleaved Two of Five’s are barcodes created from an EAN-13 number (by adding an additional leading digit) to be used on the cartons of the EAN-13 barcode’s product. These are large barcodes printed on boxes of 6 or 12 of an item to be used only for stock tracking purposes and not for retail selling.

Also called 2D Barcodes – Refers to barcodes that encode information both vertically and horizontally as opposed to traditional 1D barcodes. These are capable of encoding much more information than normal barcodes. QR Codes are the most common type.

A way that a set of numbers (0-9) can be encoded to be read by a barcode scanner. Each number in the parity must be represented by a different combination of black and white spaces in barcodes and each parity used in the encoding of one barcode number must be entirely different from all other parities used in the barcode symbology.

Quick Response codes are the most common kind of 2D Barcode. First developed for Toyota, these codes are now used world wide to encode a large variety of other information. They are primarily used to automatically link smart phones to URL addresses when scanned.

Quiet Zones are part of the barcode specifications that refer to the white spaces on either side of the bars. These are required to be a certain size for the barcode to scan correctly and for it to fit within the officially accepted specifications. Sometimes a ‘>’ is used to indicate how big the quiet zone should be.

Specifications refer to the dimensions that the barcode is required to be on a product in order to be officially accepted. Stores have different levels of tolerance for barcodes that don’t fit these specifications. Smaller stores don’t tend to mind so much.

Symbology is the type of Barcode or way that the barcode is encoded. This word is sometimes interchanged with format. The symbology is a combination of the parities used and in what order these are used.

Universal Product Code – A type of retail barcode used predominantly in the USA (although theoretically accepted worldwide). These 12 digit numbers are encoded in UPC-A Symbology. These are effectively a subset of EAN-13 numbers.

An additional service offered by GS1 and some barcode resellers consisting of a test scan of the barcode as it will be printed on the product to see how it is likely to scan in different environments. Usually this is not necessary however some larger retailers require this. The barcode must strictly adhere to barcode specifications to pass.

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